71st New York State Militia/National Guard

United States Regiments & Batteries > New York

The 71st New York State Militia lost 1 officer and 14 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 officer and 4 enlisted men to disease during its 1861 service. In April of 1862 legislation changed the designation of militia units to “National Guard.”

1861
April 10 Organized in New York City. Company I was armed with two 12 pounder Dahlgren howitzers.

  • Company A, Captain D.D. Hart
  • Company B, Captain B.L. Trafford
  • Company C, Captain W.C. Coles
  • Company D, Captain D.C. Muschutt
  • Company E, Captain E.S. Wade
  • Company F, Captain J.L.Ellis
  • Company G, Captain W.S. Dunham
  • Company H, Captain A.F. Miller
  • Company I, Captain A.V.H. Ellis
April 21 Nine companies mustering 950 men left New York for Annapolis, Maryland, commanded by Colonel Abraham S. Vosberg, Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Smith and Major George Buckingham
April 24 Arrived Annapolis
April 25 To Washington, D.C.
April 26 Assigned to duty at the Navy Yard.
April 30 Mustered into United States service and attached to Mansfield’s Command
May 3 Mustered in for three months’ United States service
May 20 Colonel Vosberg died of pulmonary disease, and Colonel Henry P. Martin was given command of the regiment
May 24 Occupation of Alexandria, Virginia.
May 31 & June 1

Attack on Batteries at Aquia Creek
June Assigned to Burnside’s Brigade, Hunter’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia
June 27

Attack on Matthias Point
Performed escort duty at the funerals of Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth and Captain Ward, United States Navy.
July 16-21 Advance on Manassas, Virginia.
July 16 Marched from the Navy Yard and across the Long Bridge, advancing to within ive miles of Fairfax.
July 17 Marched beyond Fairfax.
July 18 Marched to within a mie of Centreville.
July 21

Action at Sudley Springs and Battle of Bull Run

The regiment marched at 2 a.m. to reach the battlefield, and was engaged in severe fighting. It lost 10 men killed, 3 officers and 37 enlisted men wounded, and 1 officer and 11 enlisted men captured.

The regiment is referenced in a trailside marker on Matthews Hill on the Manassas battlefield.

Company I’s two 12 pounder Dahlgren howitzers were abandoned during the afternoon withdrawal at the suspension bridge over Cub Run two miles west of Centreville.
Volunteered to build and man Batteries beyond Alexandria.
July 31 Mustered out under Colonel Henry P. Martin
1862
May 12 Ten companies were mustered in for three months’ United States service under the command of Colonel Henry Martin
May 28 Left State for Washington, D.C. and attached to Sturgis’ Command, Military District of Washington
September 2 Mustered out
1863
June 17 Mustered in for 30 days United States service under the command of Colonel Benjamin L. Trafford.
June 18 Left State for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Dept. of the Susquehanna.
June 25 Skirmish at Kingston
June 28-29

Oyster Point, New Harrisburg

The regiment lost one man wounded
June 22 The 71st New York National Guard mustered out